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Greece liiterly "pwned" Portugal and Portugal is out of the tournament.

Shows how much you know -_- ...

Portugal is not out of the tournament...if they win they're next 2 games (against russia and spain) then they advance...just cause they lost or won their first game doesn't decide the entire outcome of the tournament

Edit:

and btw...Portugal didn't get "pwned" by anyone...getting "pwned" was

1. Poland when Portugal played and beat them 4-0...

2. America when they played against Poland and Poland scored either 1 or 2 goals within the first 10 or so minutes...

Host nation Portugal made a disappointing start to their Euro 2004 campaign, losing 2-1 to Greece at the Estadio do Dragao in Oporto.

Goals from Giorgios Karagounis and Angelos Basinas gave Greece their first win in a major tournament against a Portuguese side at odds with their nerves.

The Greeks signalled their intention early and should have opened the scoring in the first minute. Vryzas failed to make contact with a Takis Fyssas cross with the Portuguese defence in disarray.

The pressure from Otto Rehhagel's side told and Greece opened the scoring on seven minutes. A Paulo Ferreira mistake allowed Karagounis to run unchallenged before striking a long range effort past Ricardo.

The home side were stung by the setback and immediately went on the attack. Antonis Nikopolidis failed to deal with a high ball but no one could take advantage and the Greeks cleared their lines.

A mistake by Costinha almost presented Angelos Haristeas with the chance to double Greece's lead on nine but he got his angles wrong and the shot fizzed wide.

Greece were looking the most comfortable team as Portugal failed to get going. Perugia midfielder Zisis Vryzas tried his luck on the volley but his shot sailed high and wide.

It took 15 minutes for Portugal to muster their first chance of the match. Fernando Couto laid the ball off nicely to fellow centre back Jorge Andrade who fired wide.

The lively Haristeas then had a couple of efforts as Greece looked to double their advantage.

First, the Werder Bremen striker jumped higher than the Portuguese defence to head over before finding some room in the area and shooting straight at Ricardo.

Portugal had their best chance of the half on 25 minutes when a Paulo Ferreira cross was headed wide by the unmarked Rui Costa.

Six minutes later and a deft touch took Simao past Dellas and into the area, but Nikopolidis came out well to smother the danger.

Figo began to run the show as the host nation looked to get back into the game. The Real Madrid winger fed Maniche but his effort cleared the crossbar.

Despite Figo's probings, Portugal did not pose much of a threat to the Greek defence with Pauleta looking increasingly isolated up front on his own.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made a double substitution at half time with Cristiano Ronaldo and Deco coming on for the disappointing Rui Costa and Simao.

However, Portugal suffered a further blow on 51 minutes as Seitaridis was crudely brought down by Ronaldo in the area. Basinas coolly stroked the penalty past Ricardo to make it 2-0.

The host nation tried to regroup but despite their best effort, Greece defended stoutly and chances were at a premium.

Maniche saw another long-range effort sail wide on 60 minutes before Scolari made his third change with striker Nuno Gomes coming on to bolster the attack.

Cristiano Ronaldo desperately tried to make up for his error with some clever jinking runs from the right but there was no end product from the Manchester United man's crosses.

Figo failed to make the breakthrough with a free-kick on 75 before Deco tried his luck after a jinking run took him within sight of the Greek goal.

Try as they might, the Portuguese attack failed to force Nikolidis into a save. Ronaldo found some space in the area but his shot on the turn hit Seitaridis and bounced wide.

The Greek keeper was forced to do some work on 85 minutes, palming away a Nuno Gomes effort as Portugal looked to salvage some pride.

Portugal managed a consolation goal on 92 minutes when Ronaldo headed in a Figo corner but Greece held on to win the opening match of Euro 2004.

Spain coach Inaki Saez takes the plaudits after substitute Juan Carlos Valeron scored with his first touch after coming off the bench to earn a 1-0 win for Spain against Russia.

The Deportivo La Coruna midfielder, a surprise omission from Spain's starting line-up, arrived on the hour mark and finished with consummate ease to win the game.

Spain began the game with a vigour and attacking intent that made a mockery of their reputation as slow starters.

Valencia pair Ruben Baraja and David Albelda gave customary protection to their back four and in willing wide men Joseba Etxeberria and Vicente had pace and natural width.

In the first minute and it was the mercurial Raul who fashioned the game's first opportunity.

Baraja's long ball from back to front was straight but Alexei Smertin, adjusting to his makeshift defensive position, was caught square and Raul, having worked a yard drifted an effort just wide.

Vicente and Etxeberria were both being supplied adroitly by the raking balls of Baraja and on the half-hour, it was the Valencia man who proved the provider of the half's best opportunity.

Twisting Vadim Evseev inside and then out, Vicente worked his way to the byline and fed Morientes. The in-form Madrid man connected well but Sergei Ovchinnikov was equal to it and diverted the ball away.

Buoyed by their escape, Russia grew in confidence and immediately worked the ball forward and created their own first chance.

Porto midfielder Alenichev showed wonderful feet on the edge of the Spanish box and having glided past two lethargic challenges, Ilker Casillas was alert and managed to block for a corner.

Alenichev then found time on the edge of the Spanish box but his drilled effort was again saved smartly by Casillas at his near post.

The rest of the half saw both teams sparring in midfield but despite the continued efforts of Spain's exciting wingers, neither managed to fashion a further chance.

Etxeberria started the second period as he finished the first and it was his devilish delivery that found Raul - who met the ball meekly and pulled his header wide.

On the hour mark Inaki Saez had clearly seen enough from his goal-shy charges and made what was to prove the proverbial inspired substitution.

Xabi Alonso and Juan Carlos Valeron were summoned from the bench and to some effect.

The imperious Carles Puyol broke on the overlap and when his drilled ball ended at the feet of Valeron, the sumptuous midfielder made no mistake from eight yards.

Taking the ball from his feet with his first touch, his second slammed the ball past Ovchinnikov in the Russian goal.

Having played the opening hour of the game with a defensive game plan that had in truth oppressed the Spanish attack efficiently, Russia had to commit forward but their attacking options looked rather blunt.

Instead, it was Valeron who was to become the principal entertainer - full of characteristic flicks and feints which Russia struggled to ever nullify.

Russia's response lacked precision and having been reduced to hopeful balls into the Spanish box, Saez's men controlled their counterparts with ease.

On the one occasion Russia breeched Spain's backline, Albelda upended Dmitri Bulykin with a crude challenge that resulted in a deserved booking.

With three minutes remaining Russia's woe intensified when Roman Sharonov felled substitute Fernando Torres on the edge of the box and duly received his matching orders for a second booking.

Vicente and then Torres could then have sealed the victory but Valeron's effort proved enough to seal a derserved win for a dangerous looking Spanish side.

Best of the Day - June 12We look at the best action from today's games in Euro 2004.by Alex Dunn - Last Updated 12 Jun 2004

We look at the best action from today's games in Euro 2004.

Player of the day - Trainos Dellas
With honourable mention to Carlos Puyol, who was in scintillating form for Spain, the player of the day had to be from the blue and whites of Greece.

Although the goals from Angelos Basinas and Giorgios Karagounis decided the game by shattering Portugal's hopes early in each period - the win was built on a rock solid defence.

Trainos Dellas plays his football in Italy - a country that knows a bit about good defending.

And yet, even the Italians would have been impressed with Dellas's dominant display at the back. Composed, solid and commanding - a superb performance when the chips were down .

Goal of the day - Giorgios Karagounis
It took just seven minutes to shatter the hopes of a nation - a mistake by Paulo Ferreira allowed Giorgios Karagounis space to run at the defence.

The Portugal defence let the player have far too much time and space, and were made to pay for their hesitance.

Looking up, Karagounis arrowed home a drive of unerring accuracy that hapless goalkeeper Ricardo could only get the merest touch on before it hit the back of the net

Portugal was silenced - and Greece were on their way to an unlikely victory in the opening game.

Save of the day - Sergey Ovchinokov
Fernando Morientes has shown just how good he is this season. Propelling Monaco to the UEFA Champions League final after the humiliation of being farmed out at Real Madrid.

However, the Spaniard met his match on Saturday when he had the opportunity to nod home a trademark far post header.

To Morientes' surprise, Russian goalkeeper Sergey Ovchinikov threw himself to his left and managed to keep the ball out.

A fine save - but Spain would eventually break the deadlock to claim victory.

Pass of the day - Carlos Puyol
Carlos Puyol was outstanding for Spain and his industry down the right paid off for Spain as he laid on their winner.

The Barcelona man escaped down the flank and looked up before firing the perfect ball across.

Striker Juan Carlos Valeron could scarcely believe his luck - and had time to take a touch before lashing home just seconds after coming off the bench.

Miss of the day - Raul
Raul has not had a good season - by his own astronomic standards - and the Real Madrid legend should have scored in Spain's clash against Russia

The prolific striker was picked out ummarked by Joseba Etxeberria with a wonderful cross,

However, despite rising to meet the ball Raul directed his header woefully wide.

Dive of the day - Pauleta
A little bit of frustration and a disappointing game probably conspired to force Pauleta into drastic action

The striker was well aware he was inside the box and surrounded, but tried his best to benefit by throwing himself to the ground

Unfortunately he had forgotten that Pierluigi Collina deals with far better 'simulators' on a weekly basis in Serie A.

The bald-headed official gave the striker his best glare as he waved play on disgustedly.

Tactic of the day - Inaki Saez
An easy choice for Tactic of the Day - Spain coach Inaki Saez can scarcely have made a substitution that had such an impact.

Juan Carlos Valeron was probably a little unlucky not to start, but after scoring with his first touch - has become the tournament's first super-sub.

It took less than a minute, 36 seconds to be precise, from crossing the line to hammering the ball into the back of the net after Carlos Puyol's fine cross

Celebration of the day - Greece
For those that thought Greece's insistence that they could not win this game was a bluff of international size - the celebrations showed just how shocked the nation was.

The Grecian fans in the stands will be telling their grandchildren that they were at THE match when the nation picked up their first major tournament win.

England take on defending champions and favourites France in their opening game of Euro 2004, in possibly the most eagerly-anticipated clash of the tournament.

With so many club team-mates facing each other and so many players plying their trade in the English Premier League, the game in Lisbon is sure to have a derby atmosphere about it.

Sven Goran Eriksson's main problem ahead of the game is the well-publicised absence of the injured John Terry, and the dilemma of who should replace him between Jamie Carragher and Ledley King.

A further problem for the Swede is whether to play his favoured diamond formation or revert to the 4-4-2, which seems to suit his English players, especially Steven Gerrard, much better.

Paul Scholes could well find himself on the left hand side of midfielder should Eriksson play four men across the middle of the park, as the Manchester United man looks to finally end a barren international spell that has seen him go three years without a goal.

Up front there are no problems but Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen face the unenviable task of trying to breech a defence that has not conceded a goal in over 1000 minutes.

France have not lost for 18 international games but Jacques Santini's line-up is also not set in stone, especially at the back.

Marcel Desailly looks to have recovered from a knee injury, but he still may not be in the starting XI after the displays of Mikael Silvestre and Lilian Thuram.

William Gallas is also vying for a starting berth but he is more likely to be deployed at right back, although he will be challenged for his position by Willy Sagnol.

Juventus striker David Trezeguet is getting over a foot injury and should be fit enough to take his place up front alongside Thierry Henry.

Henry's battle with Arsenal team-mate Sol Campbell is one of the most mouth-watering clashes, but Patrick Vieira faces Gerrard and Frank Lampard does battle with Claude Makelele, not to mention David Beckham's tussle with fellow Real Madrid star Zinedine Zidane.

With so much familiarity, and so much quality on show the battle at the Estadio de Luz could be one of the best of the tournament.

Croatia take on Switzerland on Sunday with both sides knowing that a win for either side would give them a great chance of an unlikely passage into the quarter finals.

England and France are seen as the big guns in Group B but the Swiss and Croats are keen that they should not be written off as also-rans.

A win for either side, coupled with a result in England v France, would give on of the underdogs a good chance of progression considering the pressure that would then be on one of the big two.

Croatia are certainly set to go for the victory, if coach Otto Baric's selection in their final warm-up game against Denmark is anything to go by.

Baric played with four forwards in Copenhagen, two of them out wide, and he has already said that he may go the same way for the Switzerland clash in Leiria.

Croatia's plans have already been hampered with number one goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa having to pull out of the tournament with a thigh muscle injury.

Tomislav Butina will start in goal for Croatia while Vladimir Vasilj has been called into the squad as cover.

Juventus man Igor Tudor is suspended for the match, while there are injury doubts over striker Tomislav Ivic and skipper Boris Zivkovic, although both are still expected to start.

Croatia have never drawn a European Championship match and the signs are that they will not be going for a stalemate against the Swiss.

Kobi Kahn has midfielder Ricardo Cabanas suspended for a game which the Swiss also believe could propel them into the next round with a win.

Midfielder Johann Vogel is expected to return from a thigh injury to play in the match, while Kahn has a choice between Patrick Muller and Stephane Henchoz in the heart of defence.

Switzerland have plenty of experience in their side with goalkeeper Joerg Stiel the oldest player in the competition and striker Stephane Chapuisat one of only six in the competition with over 100 caps to his name.

The Swiss have not won a European Championship finals match but now that they could stand a chance of springing a shock in the group if they could break their duck against Croatia.

Portugal is not out of the tournament...if they win they're next 2 games (against russia and spain) then they advance...just cause they lost or won their first game doesn't decide the entire outcome of the tournament

Edit:

and btw...Portugal didn't get "pwned" by anyone...getting "pwned" was

1. Poland when Portugal played and beat them 4-0...

2. America when they played against Poland and Poland scored either 1 or 2 goals within the first 10 or so minutes...

Portugal lost by 1 point....

Please don't get so patriotic on me. I'm Portuguese myself and I can see the facts.
Sure Portugal can go to the next round IF they win against Russia and SPAIN. The fact is, the chance of them winning against Spain is so small, they only won...what? Four times out of 60 games against them?

Do I need to remind you of the shattering defeat last year, 3 - 0 on homesoil?

Let's face it even if they win against them, they still have to face France in the quarter finals (assuming Portugal will be second place). In other words....Portugal is gridlocked and out of the tournament.

Unless there's a miracle and they actually are going to play well but I'm doubting that.

Yes, it will be almost impossible for Portugal qualify to 1/4 finals. However I think it will happen because of Russia.
They got , how many... I think 7 yellow cards in their first match. If they get a couple more in the match against Portugal, they won't have any good players left for thier last match against Greece. And they'll lose against Greece thus denying Portugal the chance to get to 1/4 finals.

The fact is, the chance of them winning against Spain is so small, they only won...what? Four times out of 60 games against them?

That proves how much you know about Portugal - Spain matches...

It was 30 games, in which Spain won 15 times, Portugal 11 and there were 4 draws...

As you, see, it isn't impossible for us... heck, i believe the word impossible doesn't even exist in the players books

Let's do a small math, shall we?

Spain wins against Greece, which means they will have 4 points. Portugal wins against Russia, which equals 3 points. Portugal ties with Spain, one point to each of them. Russia and Greece tie, 1 point for each of them. which means that Portugal and Greece could have the same amount of points, but it will be the goal difference that will count.

Spain wins against Greece, which means they will have 4 points. Portugal wins against Russia, which equals 3 points. Portugal ties with Spain, one point to each of them. Russia and Greece tie, 1 point for each of them. which means that Portugal and Greece could have the same amount of points, but it will be the goal difference that will count.

Eh, if Spain wins against Greece, they receive 3 points for a total then of 6 points... where does the 4 points come in?

My friends and I have discussed this and the conclusion we have is that Portugal can reach the quarters but it is an uphill task that is not totally within their hands since now they have to depend on other teams' results. It is an uphill task no doubt. The thing they must do is to absolutely win the next match, otherwise they are screwed.

You cannot deny that Portugal played like (in the nicest terms) a bunch of school boys that day... Within the first 5 minutes, my friend and I were already crying out loud at their passing and when he said "I'm pretty sure they'll lose." Guess what? The Greeks scored. The Portugese captain was more concerned with his own balls than trying to prevent that football from going into the net.

As long as I get to good football, I'll be happy with whatever champion (except France).

Hope to see a trio of victorius lions standing over the blue field today... Viva la France (to defeat)!